Chapter 34
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Translator: Xrecker
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: Men Become Friends Through Fighting (5)
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I shook my head at Yeon-hwa's suggestion.
"I don't think that's possible."
"Oh my? And why is that?"
"It's difficult to prove a strength that would satisfy you with a duel against Arsvald. That duel is... strictly speaking, just to draw Arsvald into the group."
"Which means..."
Yeon-hwa asked me with a playful smile.
"It's a spar for show?"
"No, it's not that bad. It'll just be enough to work up a good sweat. And that level... won't be enough to convince you."
"Hmm~ then what are you going to do?"
"I'd like you to spare me some time after the duel. I'll prove it then."
"Alright."
Yeon-hwa nodded, accepting my words.
"Then I'll look forward to the real proof... and I'll enjoy watching the duel between you and Mr. Zenedict tomorrow."
"I hope you enjoy it."
My throat was dry from praising Yeon-hwa so much, so I drank the rest of my green tea in one gulp.
It had cooled down to a good temperature while I was talking, so it was just right for swallowing.
"Excuse me."
I had no more to talk about with Yeon-hwa, and since Pamela's class was not over yet, I was going to continue my tour of the academy.
At that moment.
"Wait a moment, Mr. Sihan."
Yeon-hwa called out to me.
"What is it?"
"Ahem! Since we've met, why don't we talk a little more? It's still a while before lunchtime, right?"
"What more is there to talk about?"
"Let's see. For example~."
Yeon-hwa brought the tips of her fingers together, repeatedly opening and closing them as she glanced at me.
"About my beautiful appearance, for instance?"
Aha.
She wants more compliments.
"I think I've already given you all the compliments I can."
"It's important to go over the obvious facts, you know? Especially since you're so good with words, Mr. Sihan... no, is it your voice that's so pleasant? Even the same words will be better understood."
She was saying it plausibly, but what Yeon-hwa was talking about was not a review of strategy or battle, but a request to be praised again.
"Hmm, but doesn't repeating the same words devalue them?"
"My beauty and charm are not diminished in the slightest, no matter how many times they are mentioned! Oh ho ho ho ho!"
"I don't really feel like it."
"Oh my. And why is that?"
"If we're going to talk, it would be better to do it in a more progressive way. But I find it difficult to mention any more of your charms. It's not a charm that can be noticed just by looking at you a few times... I would have to be in the same group with you and spend time together to be able to mention your various beauties, not just your superficial ones."
"Oh ho ho ho ho! Oh, Mr. Sihan! Even if you say that, I have no intention of joining your group right now! But I'm a little! Just a tiny bit tempted! You're quite something, Mr. Sihan!"
Even though she was saying this, Yeon-hwa's eyes were sparkling as I was speaking.
Well, since there was plenty of time anyway, I decided to work on raising Yeon-hwa's favorability for a bit.
Until lunchtime, I praised Yeon-hwa's beauty, changing my expressions slightly.
[You have pierced through praise resistance.]
"Uuuuuugh~! This feels amazing! Oh ho ho ho ho!"
Yeon-hwa laughed loudly throughout the praise, a smile never leaving her face.
***
"Heuk... heet. Heuk..."
"You did a good job today too, Pamela."
"Yes..."
After meeting with Pamela, we had a meal together, and since it was a good opportunity, we did some stamina training together at the academy's gym.
When Pamela had bought her training clothes, I had also gotten a set, so I ran alongside her.
The gym was quite spacious, and besides us, other students were training, either using the various exercise equipment or running like us.
Of course, since everyone was training on their own, there was no interference with each other.
"You can run for much longer than you could at first. Let's continue to build up your stamina like this, step by step."
"Yes... M-Mr. Sihan...! Water...! Please give me some water...!"
"Alright."
"You're working hard."
The moment I handed the water bottle to Pamela, Delt, whom I had seen at the entrance exam, approached us.
"Good day, Professor Delt."
"Ah, good—heuk! Good day... to you!"
"You should drink your water first."
Gulp, gulp!
Watching us, Delt stroked his chin and smiled.
"For a witch like you to be doing stamina training... who came up with that idea?"
"I did."
"Right. I thought so."
Delt crossed his arms and continued.
"Even if you mainly use magic, stamina is always necessary. There have been countless cases where mages who don't do any stamina training, saying they're not warriors, quickly run out of energy and have trouble in battle when moving through slightly rough terrain."
From the "back in my day" kind of nuance, it seemed to be a story from his own experience.
"It sounds like you're speaking from experience."
"I was originally an adventurer and was specially hired as a professor at the academy. Haa, it was a real headache back then. You're much better than I was, neglecting mages when I was young."
"Thank you. Pamela will be in the same group as me in the future. So I suggested we build up her stamina for her sake as well."
"A group... ah. I heard from Roderick. A study group? You said you were creating something like that?"
"Yes."
"But you need at least three people to create a group."
"I know. That's why I'm currently recruiting members."
"It won't be easy. I heard you've made quite a few enemies since the first class?"
"A little dislike doesn't matter if I show them my skills. In fact, it's just a good way to draw their attention to me."
"Hmm?"
Delt, who had a puzzled expression, immediately grinned.
"Aha~ so that's what it was. You're more of a schemer than you look, aren't you?"
"It's wisdom learned from experience."
"Th-th-that..."
Pamela, who had finished her water and caught her breath, asked Delt.
"P-Professor Delt, wh-what brings you here?"
"I came to train too. I can't be surpassed by the students I'm teaching because I've neglected my own training. Hahaha!"
He had acted sternly during the entrance exam, but Delt's original personality was a cheerful one who laughed a lot.
"I hope you have a good training session. We'll be going now, Pamela."
"Y-yes!"
As Pamela and I were about to walk towards the showers, Delt called out to me.
"Sihan."
"Yes."
"I heard you're dueling Arsvald Zenedict tomorrow, right?"
"Yes."
"The practical sparring class is my class. I expect to see a good duel."
I hadn't paid attention to the professor's name on the class list, but it seemed Delt was the professor for the practical sparring class.
"Understood."
***
In the Ruong District, located within Lucadia.
Shu Yeon-hwa entered the Shu family's villa in the Ruong District in a very refreshed mood.
'Really! Today was a good day!'
"Kyeong-hu!"
"Welcome back, Young Lady Yeon-hwa."
At Shu Yeon-hwa's voice, a woman in a Chinese-style suit immediately approached her. It was Kyeong-hu, who was assigned to care for her and manage the villa.
"Do you still have the application form for the Flame Dragon Society?"
"Yes. I was planning to submit it today."
"Please hold onto that application form for now."
"Young Lady Yeon-hwa? What do you mean by that?"
"I've made a promise. A promise to join a different group instead of the Flame Dragon Society, depending on a condition."
"What...!"
Kyeong-hu was shocked and couldn't understand what Shu Yeon-hwa was saying.
"Young Lady Yeon-hwa, the Flame Dragon Society is a place that every prestigious family in Ruong must join. The children of the Shing, Tuo, and Shen families are also there."
The Shu family held a prominent position in Ruong. But the same was true for the other prestigious families. To compete with other families, read their intentions, and maintain connections for cooperation, it was common sense for an heir of a prestigious Ruong family to join the Flame Dragon Society.
"And yet you're not joining the Flame Dragon Society! What kind of group is it...!"
"It's a group that hasn't been established yet."
"What!?"
"That's why I've set a condition. It's not like I'm refusing to join the Flame Dragon Society without any thought. Kyeong-hu, you know Mr. Sihan, right?"
"Yes. The one who exterminated the Belken Gang, and whom you went to thank... d-don't tell me he's creating a group and has sweet-talked you into joining, Young Lady Yeon-hwa? ...I will go and teach him a lesson right now!"
"Kyeong-hu! Don't do anything rash."
"B-but, Young Lady Yeon-hwa...."
"How many times do I have to say it? I'm not just joining unconditionally. I simply promised that I would join if Mr. Sihan gives me proof that it's worth joining."
"Proof? What kind of..."
"I wonder. I don't know either what kind of proof he will show. But I've decided to see that proof tomorrow, so I'm postponing the application for the Flame Dragon Society for a while."
"Ah..."
Kyeong-hu was relieved to hear Shu Yeon-hwa's words.
'Young Lady Yeon-hwa is simply trying to spare her benefactor's feelings.'
Kyeong-hu reasoned the situation in her own way: Sihan, who is creating a group, saw the beautiful Young Lady Yeon-hwa and proposed she join -> Young Lady Yeon-hwa, who was there to thank him, would be crushing her benefactor's pride if she refused outright -> So, she put the decision on hold and gave him a day's grace.
'Ah, how merciful you are, Young Lady Yeon-hwa.'
"Understood. Then I will wait until you tell me to submit it again, Young Lady Yeon-hwa."
"Please do. Oh, and Kyeong-hu."
"Yes, Young Lady Yeon-hwa."
"How beautiful am I?"
"Of course!"
Kyeong-hu said with all her heart.
"You are more beautiful than anyone else. Your hair is more brilliant than the stars in the sky, your eyes sparkle like jewels, and your skin is like silk! Young Lady Yeon-hwa, who possesses all of these, holds the greatest beauty."
"Oh ho ho ho ho! That's obvious!"
"Yes. It is a given that you are beautiful, Young Lady Yeon-hwa."
"I'll be going to my room now. Please continue your hard work, Kyeong-hu."
"Please rest well, Young Lady Yeon-hwa."
Alone in her room, Shu Yeon-hwa placed her index finger on her chin and tilted her head.
"Still, Mr. Sihan's compliments feel... better. Why is that?"
Shu Yeon-hwa recalled the feeling she had when she heard Sihan's compliments.
A joy that welled up from deep within her heart. It was similar to the joy and pride she had felt as a child when she was first praised by the head of the Shu family, her father. And that same joy had struck her heart repeatedly, without diminishing in the slightest.
Even just recalling it now.
"Uuuuuugh~!"
Shu Yeon-hwa could savor the joy to the point where she stomped her feet, clenched her fists and shook them, her eyes shut tight with happiness as a smile spread uncontrollably across her face.
"Aah~ this is a problem. This is a real problem."
Shu Yeon-hwa covered her flushed face, overflowing with joy.
"How long has it been since I've wanted something this much? If Mr. Sihan can't convince me... hehe, then I'll have to propose that he become my bodyguard instead."
After thinking of a plan for when Sihan's proposal failed, Shu Yeon-hwa immediately jumped onto her bed.
And.
"Uuuuuugh~!"
On her bed, she twisted and turned her body to her heart's content, stretching and moving her arms and legs wildly, savoring the bliss as she recalled the compliments Sihan had given her today.